We would like to introduce ourselves and our show Dance Rush that we are going to perform for the first time in America, in San Francisco, January 2013 at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre.

Our Dance Company called Yada has 25 years of excellence, extensive touring in Europe, India, England, Dubai and more. We are originally from a tiny Mediterranean island Malta and we are so excited to show our unique performance based on motion picture August Rush.

We are so delighted to post the introduction of the show here and you can always check our website www.dance-rush.com for more information, video, biography, etc.

DANCE RUSH – THE SHOW is the most dazzling dance show ever staged; it touches hearts and astounds with fantastic choreography, cinematographic visual effects and elaborate costumes!! This brand new 90-minute mega-production brings together 40 high calibre dancers and a crew from the shining Islands of southern Europe – Malta, at the heart of the Mediterranean Sea.

DANCE RUSH – THE SHOW first came to life in 2009 when Yada’s Dance Company Director, Felix Busutill, stumbled across a motion picture August Rush, the story of an orphaned child who channels his parents’ existence through his amazing genetic ability to listen, re-create and master the music. Felix was so moved by the film’s musical sensibility that he felt compelled to create a dance theatre piece. This story of a child’s journey has been transformed by Dance Rush to express humanity’s timeless and universal connection through music and movement highlighting Jazz Dance, Ballet, Folk and Contemporary styles.

We are posting our press release below.Thank you for visiting this post!We hope to see you at our performance.

The YADA Dance Company will grace for the first time an American stage in January 2013. DANCE RUSH will be premiered at The Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco on January 11th to be exact. This highly acclaimed and already popular European company has a particular brand – entertainment and spectacle at its best that leave audiences jump on their seats and join in the dance. This company has taken Europe by surprise with its unique rendition of dance shows, where the whole auditorium becomes a part of the stage, where emotions are destined to be touched and where from beginning to end, color and design take centre-stage.

YADA is truly a miracle company as this successful company was born through a population of only 400,000 Maltese – Malta lies in the heart of the Mediterranean but has strong values, a deep sense of spirituality and a love for the stage derived from passion and not only from business. Felix Busutttil, Director and Founder of YADA, was born in the smaller sister island, Gozo with a mere 26 square mile size, roughly the size of Manhattan and a population of only 31,000! The islands boast of 6000 years of history possessing the oldest pre-historic temples of the world built 2000 years before the Pyramids of Giza. Coming from such a small country did not however stop Felix in creating this empire. Through sheer determination and a deep-seated belief, the company has become truly international starting its World Tour in San Francisco.

“ When I started to dance, it was quite late” Felix quotes. “ I started professionally at the age of 17. Quite late. But since I was a child, music just mesmerized me – I used to stare and visualize whole shows, complete shows with lights and costumes at the age of 8 and 10. I never closed my eyes to see and feel it – I was blessed by some powerful force to change music into movement and when I felt it, I transformed it into reality. The famous saying “Thoughts become reality”…”

Felix continues” Dance took over, music controlled me – and I have always wished to transfer and share the same elating music to all around me. I wished all felt how powerful music is – it makes one feel good, moves, changes, brings comfort, joy and compassion. It builds spectacles, cities, cultures and humanity. It seems that nature itself is governed by music. The ebb and flow, the crescendo and the andante, the sounds of weather and the creatures that roam planet Earth. The sounds of children laughing, our machinery at work, our walking… it is what inspired me to choreograph DANCE RUSH.”

The show is inspired by the motion picture “August Rush” – it tells the story orphaned who escapes this imprisoned environment to look for his parents who believe the child is long gone and dead. Music brings them closer and closer until they finally meet in the freest area in New York, Central Park under a starlit night as his composition is being played. “DANCE RUSH” is inspired by such story – the child is all of us. Our parents are those, anyone who brings us to life. Two people who give total comfort, warmth and love unconditionally. It is what universally we all hold dear. We want to escape from our constricted lives to come home through the beauty and splendor of music. Music is marvelously and solely made up of seven notes – seven notes that have an endless motion and diversity. And it these seven notes, these seven journeys into music that bring us closer to home – classical music, world music, opera, jazz, contemporary and celebrative music, ethnic and rock music… together with the sounds that surround us daily from the moment in our mother’s womb to the last breath and further beyond.

YADA’s dancers swing, kick, pirouette and lift daily. Ballet shoes are hung and re-worn for Nina’s classes. Matias, the 12-year old mascot dancer travels from over the sea weekly from the sister-island of Gozo to rehearse. Felix and the other choreographers study, day-dream and get inspired from the music to create. Costume designers and make-up artistes meet up and communicate so that their creations will dazzle. Special effects, projections and visuals have started being built on computer screens. The YADA studios have started to look like bee-hives in preparation for their next production. It is a very exciting period.

DANCE RUSH tells the story of an orphan looking for his lost parents and finds them through the media of music and dance. The brand YADA is unique and original. It pushes theatrical boundaries involving the audiences with fever-pitch choreography. The whole theatre becomes the stage. The choice of music very eclectic – like a chocolate box, filled with varied tastes. YADA has matured through its 30-years of existence. But even when it started in 1984 with its first show, the audiences stood up and wanted more. The elements in YADA’s shows are simple – the understanding of human nature, a joie-de-vivre that is infectious and above all the passion for dance that is so vivid and alive that makes one leave the theatre feel elated. DANCE RUSH will deliver just that. It takes this young boy on seven fantastic journeys –the world of Jazz, Opera, Classical, Rock, Swing, Ethnic and Commercial – until it reaches the climax. A young orphan re-finding home fulfilling all his wishes. It tells the story of us all. The need to come home, to find solace and happiness . And many times when we are away from “home” physically, mentally or emotionally, any familiar music will transport us just there. Dance is great. It can be transported all over the world and is understood. YADA is well-known as an European-identity dance company. It sets to light its American dream and make it a reality. The director’s principle goal is one – give joy, makes one lose all negativity and find a sense in this senseless world.

YADA stems for a little rock in the heart of the Mediterranean. America for all the dancers is true excitement. Malta is only an island 14km by 29km. Tiny. With a population of only 450,000. But through this sheer want to be heard and exist, its artistes has developed a strong passion for the Arts. Not through the want of fame or business, but the true essence of Art. The need to share, to communicate, to embellish. Malta is truly an economical success. No resources, no lakes or rivers, no bridges, no trains or metros, no high amounts of exports. Nevertheless, the island has strong values, a high sense of education and powerful will to survive. Its people hospitable, friendly, trusting. Through the ages, Malta has been conquered by Prehistoric inhabitants, the Phoenicians, the Romans, the Arabs, the Normans, the Knights of St. John ( the first true European Union ), the French and finally the British. This weird but effervescent mixture has stewed and fermented into what is today Maltese. European yes but decidedly rare and unique. So, for YADA to perform in the great US of A it is truly magical, demanding, daunting…. And wonderful.

Dance rehearsals are in full swing and the dancers are reminded as they face their wall-to-wall mirror of this amazing journey that starts in San Francisco in January 2013 at The Palace of Fine Arts in the heart of the city. Humbly they shall be bringing their incredible journey from the Mediterranean Sea to the Pacific. A strong troupe of 40 dancers, singers, technical and artistic crew with one mission in mind – to deliver, perform and share in this experience. The DANCE RUSH experience.

The company is versatile - it's repertoire ranges from glamorous cabaret shows to top major theatrical productions, from TV shows to commercials, from international events (Dubai, Turkey, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, UK, Tunisia, Portugal, Spain, Denmark) to national festivities (CHOGM Opening Ceremony MCC, 2005).

Successful theatrical productions such as Dance Spectacular (1994), Firedance (1997), Era (1998), Tango (1998), Minestrone (1999), Phantom (2000), Dirty Dancing (2001) and their latest smash-hit MICHAEL JACKSON FOREVER - The Dance Show (2011) can be seen in further detail on our portfolio together with with highlights from other local and international performances including music videos, fashion shows, jewellery shows and more.

Biography of FELIX BUSUTTILDirector and Founder of The CompanyMain Choreographer Co-Director, YADA Dance Academies and The College of Jazz DanceCompany Dancer

Felix Busuttil born and bred on a Mediterranean island that barely covers 25 kilometres called Gozo and forming part of the Maltese archipelago started pirouetting in his mother’s womb. This undying passion for dance resulted in a consequence of events that formed The YADA Dance Company, three dance institutions, a brand and huge theatrical representations. Felix started dancing in Malta at The Alison White Dance Studios and The Tanya Bajona Poutiatine Academy of Ballet. He furthered his studies at The London Studio Centre Performing Arts School. During the last 30 years, Felix has achieved many local merits and choreographed for opera, dance shows and festivals in Malta and overseas namely in Denmark, Switzerland, France, Turkey, India, Italy and Spain. He has danced and choreographed in the presence of H.R.H. Queen Elizabeth II and Mr. Tony Blair – has danced in Hollywood movies such as Cutthroat Island and Gladiators – and has worked with renowned names such as national icon and world-famous opera voices the likes of Miriam Gauci and Joseph Calleja. He has graced dance spaces such as Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen and Plaza Mayor in Madrid. YADA has become a household name in Malta having produced in the last 17 years an extensive repertoire of successful dance spectacles. Felix is appreciated by Malta’s Head of Government in Office as a true portent of professionalism in dance in Malta. He is presently a member on the Mediterranean Conference Centre Board of Directors, Malta’s national theatre. Felix has worked extensively with other top international dance tutors worldwide.He believes strongly in the power of positive thinking, endless determination and perseverance and the beauty of dance in all our lives. America is one of his favourite ideal “state of mind”. He advocates the importance of culture within our children’s education and the power of music, theatre and dance that bring nations together.

IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO EXTEND PATRONAGE TO YADA on the occasion of CHRISTUS that is being staged to celebrate YADA's twentieth anniversary. I have followed this organisation since its very birth and pride myself for having attended practically every production put up since then as well as for following how this organisation has expanded and become a crucial benchmarking our country's performing arts' scene. YADA is not only a benchmark within that sector. It has become a symbol of excellence, of searching to come up with productions that provide perfect synergies between dancers, music, lights and sound effects, stage, artistic sets, and other effects that in their totality prove that YADA give attention to every detail. By doing that, the resulting production is larger than the sum total of the different components.I express my gratitude and good wishes not only to all the performers, but also to all those who work back stage who through their dedication and talent contribute to the success of the event. All these together with choreographers, artistic directors and producers bring to life another production of the highest calibre as has become the hallmark of YADA. In doing so, those involved are promoting the exuberant talent of all the persons involved, and are communicating that talent to each and every one of us in the audience who through our presence participate in the unique experience.

Justin, born and bred in Redditch, Birmingham, UK, started dancing at the age of 12 and moved to London at 18 to study at the London Studio Center Performing Arts School. He later received a scholarship at the Vaganova Academy in St Petersburg, Russia. His foreign credits include performing at the Barbican Theater and the Wimbledon Theater in London and in Plaza Mayor in Madrid, Spain and The Peacock Theater in Tivoli Gardens, Copenhagen, with the YADA Dance Company. His other major foreign credit was performing for the London City Ballet. He has choreographed for major theatre companies such as the musicals The King and I and Fiddler on the Roof. Together with Felix, he now co-directs Malta’s largest dance academy, The College of Jazz Dance. He now forms an integral part of YADA and has been a choreographic creative force during its existence.

Tanya Bayona, a Fellow of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, London and holder of the Enrico Cecchetti Diploma directed the Tanya Bayona Princess Poutiatine Academy of Ballet for 23 years. She started her training in Malta with Princess Nathalie Poutiatine and continued her professional training in London, Rome and Paris. In 1965 Tanya introduced the Cecchetti Method in Classical Ballet to the Maltese Islands. She established her own ballet school which she successfully directed until 2004. Tanya has worked extensively as a dancer and choreographer with her own company in both local and international festivals, as well as in theatre and television productions.

On July 26th 2009 Tanya Bayona was honoured with the Enrico Cecchetti Gold Medal at the Royal Ballet School, London. Her most recent activities include special guest appearance as the Queen in Swan Lake and Clara’s mother in Nutcracker, both local productions with international participation held at the Mediterranean Conference Centre in Valletta. In December 2008 Tanya Bayona was decorated by the President of the Republic of Malta, Hon. Dr. Edward Fenech Adami, with the Medal for Service to the Republic (MQR) of the National Order of Merit for her life-long commitment to dance and promoting Classical Ballet in Malta.

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